Eureka, Calif. (March 12, 2009) Humboldt State University will host and participate in the Association of Western Forestry Clubs (AWFC) 2009 logging sports conclave, which will be held, for the first time, in conjunction with the annual Redwood Regional Logging Conference. The logging sports competition will feature forestry schools of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada and California competing in multiple disciplines at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, Calif. March 18-20.
The logging sports conclave will culminate Friday afternoon in front of the ESPNU cameras with a head-to-head competition between the most skilled collegiate lumberjacks of the Western region in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS ® Western Collegiate Challenge.
"Humboldt State is honored to host the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Western Collegiate Challenge at our university," said Ken Fulgham, Professor and Chair of Forestry and Wildland Resources Department. "We're very proud of our forestry program; and by hosting the annual Western conclave and the logging conference, were gaining a lot of visibility for our school in the academic and professional settings."
Accredited by the Society of American Foresters, the curriculum at Humboldt State University offers students options in, forest resources conservation, forest production management, forest hydrology, forest soils, and wildland fire management leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry. Humboldt State is the only university in California to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in rangeland resources and wildland soils.
STIHL Inc. the creator and producer of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by Carhartt, the worlds premier lumberjack sports event, seen by millions of fans on ESPN, will host this spectator-friendly event at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, Calif. Friday, March 20 at 1 p.m. PDT where the best collegiate lumberjacks from a dozen different western campuses will contend for the crown. The student competitors will compete in the single buck, stock saw, underhand chop and, for the first time in the collegiate series history, the standing block chop. Competitors will be judged based on the professional STIHL TIMBERSPORTS rules. The event will be televised on ESPNU.
"The Western conclave is always an exciting event because of the high level of skill that these students have," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager of STIHL Inc. "We're pleased to be a part of the national conclave and the logging conference this year its a great opportunity for us to show our support for the forestry and logging industries."
Since STIHL created the Collegiate Series in 2003, the Series has traveled to college campuses across the country to seek out the best amateur athletes and give them the opportunity to advance in the sport. More than 50 universities and colleges presently compete in the Series.
Before the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series competition, a training session will be conducted by professional lumberjack Dave Jewett. Jewett will provide pointers to the collegiate lumberjacks, demonstrate techniques involved in the lumberjack disciplines and assist the athletes in improving their skills.
In addition to the Western Collegiate Challenge, the Collegiate Series consists of four additional regional events and one championship. The complete schedule for the 2009 STIHLTIMBERSPORTSCollegiate Series includes:
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Central/Midwest hosted by Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich. Sept. 29, 2008
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Southern hosted by Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala. March 12, 2009
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Western hosted by Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. March 20, 2009
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Mid-Atlantic hosted by Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, Md. April 18, 2009
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Northeast hosted by Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. April 25, 2009
The winner of the each regional Collegiate Challenge event will earn a spot in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship in Columbus, Ga. June 19-21 a $1000 scholarship from STIHL for his school. In Columbus, the five regional winners and one wildcard pick will go head-to-head to claim the 2009 Collegiate Championship title, who then earns a place in the professional ranks in the 2010 STIHLTIMBERSPORTS Series presented by Carhartt.
The entire 2009 season of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series will air on ESPNU. Fans of the series can also get the latest information and up-to-date news and video on all the competitions by signing up for the Quick Cuts e-newsletter at
www.stihltimbersports.com
.
Join the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Mobile Community now by texting STS to STIHL (78445) and receive the latest updates in news, alerts and special offers direct to your mobile device. Standard mobile service provider rates apply.
For more information, go to
www.ESPNOutdoors.com
and click on TIMBERSPORTS, or visit
www.stihltimbersports.com
.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the
dealer locator
on STIHL's Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.
The term TIMBERSPORTS® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS® such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS® should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."
About Carhartt, Inc
Established in 1889, Carhartt, Inc. exists to provide best-in-class, durable products for the active worker. Carhartt is a family owned, consumer focused, global company that is respectful of its heritage. We lead the way in developing durable, premium, high quality products and services for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,500 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the companys founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit
www.carhartt.com
.
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